Folding-machine.



W. W. & W. L. DIXON.

FOLDING MACHINE.

A'PPLIOATION FILED SEPT.27,1899.

924,149. Patented June 8,1909.

9 SKIRTS-SHEET l.

w. W. & w. DIXON. FOLDING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED SBPT.27, 1899.

Patented June 8, 1909.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Mining? W. W. & w. L. DIXON.

FOLDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1899.

Pavtente l June 8.1909.

9 SHEETS-SHEET a.

W. W. & W. L. DIXON. FOLDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.27,1899.

Patented June 8, 1909.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' W. W, & W. L. DIXON.

FOLDING MACHINE. APPLIUATION FILED SEPT.2'7,1899.

Patented June 8,1909.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

4 OR I 1 W. W. & W. L. DIXON.

FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.27,1899.

924, 149. I Patented June 8, 1909 9 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

W. W. & W. L. DIX ON.

FOLDING MACHINE. APPLICATION IILED SEPT.27,1899. 924,149, Patented June 8,1909.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 7- W. W. & W. L. DIXON.

FOLDING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED SEPT.27,1899.

924,149. Pa-t nted June 8, 1909. I I 9 sHBBTS-SHBET 8.

w. .w. & w. L. DIXON. FOLDING MACHINE. AIPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 27.1899.

924,149. v Patented June 8,1909.

1 9 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

z ybrze ss es, I A 06 615 6M4 am i 3 zazwllgwow earns rA 'rENT WILLIAM W. DIXON AND WALTER L. DIXON,

OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO REEOE FOLDING MACHINE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION,

OF MAINE.

FOLDING-MACHINE.

No. seams.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1909.

Application filed September 27, 1899. Serial No. 731,881.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that we, WILLIAM W. DIXON and WALTER L. DIXON, citizens of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Folding Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

The present invention is an improved machine for folding collars, cufis, and analogous articles. The articles mentioned are made up of a plurality of plies or thicknesses of cloth, including an inner lining material of coarse fabric, and an outer material of fine linen, and they usually require the making of folds at various angles or corners, and on account of the extreme tendency of the cloth to stretch and become distorted, the cloth stretching in different directions or to different degrees according to the position of the corner or angular fold relatively to the direction of the threads composing the cloth, have rendered all the machines thus far invented, so far as we are aware, more or less faulty, and furthermore, in folding collars and cuffs particularly, it is necessary that the folds should be permanently creased so that when the parts are subse uently stitched together,

position in the slightest, it being understood that any such change or imperfection of folding renders the article unsalable.

Our'present invention aims to provide a machine which will cure the above mentioned defects and which will lay over and crease the separate folds as they are made, and iron them down, as it were, so that they willermanently and accurately retain their fo ded position; a further object of our invention eingto simplify the moving parts and operative mechanism of the machine, and arrange the various parts in such relative positions as to secure the requisite strength for rapid operation under all conditions. The actual construction as shown in the drawings also contains many iin rovements in various features of the machine, as will hereinafter appear in detail, which are either forincroased speed, efficiency and accuracy or for the performance of special functions; and suchimprovements as well as the main subjects heroof will be claimed in the claims appended hereto.

there willbe no liability ofthe fold changing its proper more fully pointed out in the following description, reference being had to the ace-om panyin drawings illustrative of one embodi ment 0 our invention, and the latter will be more particularly defined as a whole and in its details in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the entire machine, parts bein broken awa for clearness of illustration. ig. 2 is a left and elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33, Fig. 1, parts being omitted. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the machine. Fig. 5 is a perspective detail showing the feeding device for placing or positioning the blanks in thernachine. Fig. 6 is anenlarged horizontal section showin the die or former and the carrying frame t erefor, taken on the line 6+6, Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a similar section taken on the line 77, Fig. 1. Figs. 8 and 9. are transverse vertical sections through the respectively on the lines 8 and 9 looking toward the right, Figs. 4 and 6. Fig. 10, partial section on the line 10, Fig. 3; Fig. 11,

ers ective detail of one of the folding knives 2; Figs. 12 and- 13 are vertical transverse sections showing the blade operating cams, taken respectively on the lines 12 and 13, Figs. 1 and 3, looking toward the right. Figs. 14 and 15 are'similar views showing the lifting pressure cams, taken respectively on the lines 14 and 15, Fig. 1. Fig. 16 is a rear elevation, partlyin section, otthe back folding blade and its operating levers. Fig. 17 shows in rear elevation a detail of the die operating mechanism.- Fig. 18 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through the tab end of the raised pad.

'Our machine ingeneral comprises a frame A having cross ribs to, (1 a, c, at its ends,

being communicated to the machine by a transverse shaft d carrying at one end fast and loose pulleys d, (F, and at its opposite end a worm d moshing with a worm wheel d (Figs. 1 and 2) mounted on the shaft Ii.

This machine is of the type in which blanks are fed into the machine and held in place by a former or die, while folding blades engage the projecting edges of the blanks and lay carried by a cross head and operated by The various constructional details and the operation and advantages thereof will be former and its operating mechanism, taken carrying central operating shafts b, 0, power thcm'over in the-required folds, the die being llU 55 ing blades in creasing the mechanism, herein shown as cams, journaled in the cross head, the cross head moving up and down in guides in the frame of the ma chine, and the folding blades being supported ,on the bed or to of the frame.

Referring to igs. 3 and 4-, it will be seen that the bed 6 of the machine has a central raised pad or receiving portion a conforming in peripheral shape to the article to be folded, 10 herein illustrated as a standing collar, said raised portion standing above the bed so that the front folding blade fend back folding blade g, and the end folding blades 71, i, can be depressed as shown in 1, 3, and i0, with their upper surfaces extending flush with the top surface of the raised portion a. The front folding blad-ef, and its holder-if" to i which it is secured by screw bolts f is pivotally mounted on a rodf passing through earsftof the holder f and the free ends of the arms f are pivotally supported at their lower ends in ears f rojecting from the frame of the machine. lhe arms f are connected integrally by a cross bar j 7 having a depending arm f 8 connected adjustably atf" to a throw link f sliding in a guide 1' mounted on the shaft 0, as clearly shown in Fig. 11, and the throw link '3 having at its innerendaroll f 0 erated ya cainf fast on the shaft 0, and )eing maintained. in contact with said cam by the s iring f see Fig.

. 3. Fig. 13 shows the cam j between a cam g for operating the rear ed e folding blade and the cam m for shifting the die or former,

as will presently be ex lainedf' The cam g acts upon a roll 9 on t e free end of lever g pivoted at gt in cars g of the frame of the machine, see Fig. 16, said lever 9' being con nected to arms 'g mounted at their lower 40 ends in the ears g and at their upper ends in a holder Q carrying the back folding blade 9,

these parts and the operation thereof being I the same as already explained in connection with the front folding blade, .the mechanism. described serving to move said blades out and in simply. The up and down movement of the blades is communicated. by means of rods f and g pivotally connected adjacent the front edges and under sides of the folding blades, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 13 at f and, g respectively, (see also Fig. 1), said rods being made in two parts connected by turn buckles f and g", for the purpose of regulating the degree of pressure of the foldcloth as will presently be -described, and at their lower ends, see Figs. 14 and 15, they are pivoted in arms f g loose on a shaft (1 in the front of'the y'frame. The free ends of said arms are between opposite pairs of bearing studsf, g 'ad usta y carried in earsf, g projecting from levers f gt, also freely pivoted on the shaft a the opposite ends of said levers being provided with'rolls f, g, traveling in path 5 pains iii-the faces of similar cams f 9*, fast on the driving shaft 7). The various cams mentioned thus far are so timed that they move the folding blades up so as to-deflect the free edges of the blank held by the former, and then inwardly so as to lay said free edges over on the former loosely, and then after the former has been withdrawn the blades are brought down with great force 11 ion the fold just made, so as to crease it. The same operation is ierformed by the end folding blades, but by a different mechanism.

Referring to Figs. 1, 3 and 12, it will be seen that the end folding blade 7t carried by arm 72 fast on a vertical bolt or shaft It journaled in a bracket a adjustable on the frame of the machine, said bolt between said bearings having a lever 71F fast thereon at 72 the free end of the lever being pivotally connected at 7& to a lever 7t pivoted at h to the frame of the machine, and having a roll 7t adjustably mounted in its slotted end It, said roll running in a path cam h fast on the shaft 0; this mechanism it will be observed serves to move the end blade in an are having the pivot 77/ for its center, this are approximately bisecting the rcentrant angle at the collar tab, as will be evident viewing F 3, this particular swinging movement having been found to accomplish the folding of the collar at this difficult )oint much more smoothly and uniformfy than previous movements. As herein shown the up and Q down movement of the end blades is accom- -proper times by the free ends plishcd by means of a lever 71 having an adjustable stud h in its free end and pivoted intermediately at h, the rear end h thereof carrying a stud and roll h engaged by spurs 7) of a cam 71 also fast n the shaft '0 adjacent the cam 71 already mentioned. The mechanism for o )erating the o posite end blades i is precisefy the same as t rat already described for the end blade h, the various parts being correspondingly lettered.

In order te et the intermitting pressure on the end folding blades, as already described in connection with the side folding blades, we provide above said blades bearing blocks ft vi, which are enga ed at the llof strong levers 7r" mounted at k in the brackets on the bed of the machine and pivotally connected at 6 to rods it connected at Zr, see Fig. 14, with levers it loose on the rod or shaft (L and having at their opposite ends rolls is engaging cams it which'at the proper time serve to. bring a severe pressure u )011 the end blades, the rolls It being norm: ly held up against their cams by springs k secured at one end to the frame of the machino and at their other ends to the rods k re i perating shaft 1) is provided with a special cam 'n for raisim the crosshead a, said cam rece ving a roll n mounted imthe free end of a r ver a fast on a shaft a journaled in the nu me of the machine and carrylOl) sears-e ing adjacent its ends arms a having pivoted in their opposite ends it lifting rods a pivotrelatively to the cross head.

ed at n in a yoke n whichsupports at its ends guide 'rods n on the upperends of which is mounted the cross head a. The cross head a has journaled it; it a shaft n" and cams which give all the longitudinal and up'and down movements of the former In order to give smooth movements and economize ower we have provided a special compound ever, shown in Fig. 15, consisting of the main lever a and an auxiliary lever n pivoted at a on the lever n and; adjustable relatively thereto by a screw bolt a, said auxiliary lever carrying a roll a engaging the peculiarly sha ed cam n, which turns in the direction of t e arrow, the o eration of this compound lever being that all the lifting movements of the cam are accomplished by the short lever n while the lowering movemerits thereof are effected by the longer lever n in The shaft 12. carries at one end a' gear a", and this gear and all the other horizontal shafts before mentioned are operated from the shaftb by means of gears, shown in Fig. 2, b designating a gearing on the end of the shaft 6, meshing with an idler.

b which serves to drive the gear'c which in turn drives a gear I) through an intermediate idler b the gear b meshing with the gear a.

The former or die, as herein shown, co nprises two parts m, m*, divided from each other longitudinally, as clearly shown in Figs.

6-9, each part being composed, as herein shown of two end iecesl mfl-xm, and m m respectively, an intermediate pieces m m, t-.e parts m" m being removably secured in. fixed position at the middle of the die, and the other parts thereof being shown in the drawings as contracted.

The parts Te -m and also the parts m m are carried in supports m adjustably mounted in hangers m whose several flanged upper ends m", slide in ways provided in opposite bridge pieces m, m, see Fig. 9. The front part m (composed of .the pieces m, m) slides in the front bridge piece m, and the rear part 'In (the pieces m m") slides in the rearbridge piece m. The bridge pieces are carried by riders or flanged heads m secured thereto by screws m and sliding transversely of the cross head in slots m in opposite frames m in each suspended at its opposite ends by a pair of bolts or spindles m m held normally raised by springs m, compressed between the flanged heads of the spindles and. the top of the cross head. The bridge pieces m, m have projections m m, to bear against the underside oi the frames in", m for transverse reciprocation in the slots m", and are cut away at their inner edges to provide openings m in which are blocks m having rolls 'm' at their upper ends, said blocks being secured respectively to the front hangers m and being movable vertically with said hangers in ways m, secured respectively to the rear hangers m, this provision being for the purpose of causing said two hangers and the parts m, m of the former to move together longitudinally when actuated by the rolls m and yet be capable of moving vertically independently of each other for a )urpose presently to be described? The rolls in are operated by path cams n Tb fast on the shaft n", Fig. 4, which serve to effect all the longitudinal I movements of the die or former. The vertical movements of the die or former in the cross head are effected by similarly shaped cams a, each of which is provided with slightly diiierent cam surfaces at its peripheral edges, see Fig. 9, engaged respectively by rolls m" carried intermediate the length of opposite independent levers m m pivoted at m" to the cross head a, and resting at their free ends in sliding engagement respectively with the bridge ieces m, m, so that as the cam n rotates in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 9, the two parts m, m of the former are held depressed by the projection 30 of the cam, and then they are both slightly raised asthe point 31 of the can it engages the rolls m andagain further raised at the point 32 thereof, and a airi both do ress'ed by the projection 33, an slightly raised at 34. Theiront part m of the former is next raised free of the cloth by the depressions 35 of the came 12 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9, the rear part m of the former not being effective at th s time, but being depressed by the projectien 36, and subsequently relieved of pres sure at 37 and raised at 38, during which movements the front part m of the former has been entirely out of contact with the cloth being folded. These movements cooperate with the other movements of the dieor former, as will presently be explained, to efi ect an extremely accurate and rapid foldin of the blanks.

he forward and back movements of the die or former'are effected by an arm 'm fastened by screws m to the rear hanger m and having an overhanging or hook part m dependingsufiioiently to engage the front hanger m when both arts are flush with each other, as shown in ig. 8, thefront face of the front hanger at being cut away as indicated at m, and the arm m having a recess m to permit the front hanger m to move vertically independently of the rear hanger in, as previously explained. The arm m carries at its rear end a slide m in which reciprocates a bar m pivo .d at m, see Figs. 8, i3 and 17, to a brackc u." on the frame of the machine, and ii liustably mounted in a holder m also pivoted at m, said holder having a depending arm mt carrying at its lower free end a roll m on- ,gaging the path cam-m before referred to,

- ably secured by a bolt m to-the bar 716", so

thatit will be evident that b adjusting the bearing studs or the wedge block, or either ol them, the bar m may be given any dc gree of lost motion required for folding di ll'crent thicknesses or numbers of phcs ol cloth. This provision is for the same purpose as the bearing studs f previously reh rred to,

which enable us to get lost motion in the movement of the depressing rods f and levers f this provision for lest motion in the vertical movements of the folding blades being provided to acwuuncdate the machine accurately for tolding diil'crent thicknesses of blanks. For example, referring to Fig. 15, it will be seen that the required pressure may be brought to bear on the cloth by the top stud f but it there should be only one thickness of cloth, it would be unnecessery that the blade should rise as high as it should for, say, four thicl-cncsses oi cloth, and hence, inasmuch as the cam throws the lover f invariably the same distance, the desired degree in the throw or extent ol' rising movement of the blade is accomplished by lowering the bottom stud ft". So, also, referring to Fig. 1? il' cne thickness of cloth is to be folded, it is desirable that the peripheral edge of the folded blank should he identieal with the edge of a folded blank composed oi', say, four plies of cloth, but to produce this result it is obvious that the die.

must move forward a little farther for the single-ply blank than it docs for the tour-ply blank, and hence the wedge m must be moved up or the studs m tightened, so as to decrease the lost motion of the bar m. This feature of our invention is of considcrable practical importance when it is borne in mind that first-class work requires abso.

lute precision and uniformity in the blanks.

For the proper operation ol the die we make the gear wheels 11' and n" of special construction, so that the die will always begin its motions at precisely the same point, and when it is in final raised position, it will be left lowered relatively to the cross head and in exact vertical alinement over the collar blank, ready to be brought down directly thereupon in thefurther movements of the machine, Without any further operation thereof.

The gear I) has a block b which engages a rejection n on the gear n", thereby startmg the latter uniformly so that always the same feed of the. gears 12 a" mesh with each otherj On the opposite side of the gear [r is a. raised toothed sector 6" which engages an eccentric sector n of the inion 12", thereby rotating the latter after t 1e cross head has l begun to rise, and thus enabling the die or j former to be lowered relatively to the cross head in position to rest upon the next blank l when fed into thc machine. j The feeding mechanism is shown best in j Figs. 1, 5i and 5, where it will be seen that we provide at the rear of the back l'oldiug b ade l two \i-shapcd guides p li h I(.(ti\'4 grading lugs p (Fig. 5) of a l'ccding plate 7)" on which the collar is placed (by hand. or machine) to [it pattern. blocks or ledges p" conforming to the shape and size of the particular blanks l being l'oldcd. The blank having been placed l on the feeding plate 7F, the latter is pressed against the guides p and raised toward the die, to be receivcd and hcld b the retaining devices, shown herein as pins p (Fig. ll in the lower ends ol' plungers p" mounted in j brackets 17 depending from the cross head, said plungcrs 7f being held ,'icldin;;lv downward normally beneath the lower surface of the die or l'ormer by springs p the l'eeding plate p" preferably cont aining areas of yieldmg i'naterial, such as cork blocks p capable of receiving the repeated pin pricks ot' the pins 7 'e have l'ouud this apparatus thev inost desirable and satisfactory means for l ltdll l g blanks into a machine oi 1hischarae tcr, inasmuch it enables the operator to have the fabric more or less under his direct control.

The spring d pressed plungers 71' act as holders to maingaiu the blank from shitting with the die when the latter is shifted. in order to prey-ht the blanks l'roui shitting on the receiving pad 1:, we prcl'er to score or corrugatc-thc rec iving suri'aee of the latter, as 1 indicated at c", i I; and lLwhcrc the folds j are made. This shitting oi' the cloth on the ireceiving pa-l or'bed ol the machine has prorcd to be a very s-.'liolis obstacle to the proper working oi this kind ol' machines, and the tendency of the fabric to shil't or bccoinc. distorted has been particularly obstinate at the tab portion ol collar blanks, and accordingly we provide, in addition to the scoring just mentioned, yielding gripping blocks e shown in detail in Fig. it, where it will be seen that the block projects normally above the receiving surl'accol' the pad, said block I fitting in a recess in said pad and being yieldl ingly supported by a spring a". This particular construction is of special advantage for the reason that it enables the grip ing block to adjust itself to the special thicknesses which may exist at dill'ercnt parts of the tab, for example, as shown in big. I the gripping block extends at its back side to that portion of the collar which comprises all the hicknesses or plies of the. blank, while the l forward end part oi the block is beneath that l portion of the blank in which the lining plies are usually cut out l'or.convenience of mak ing the button holes. j 'We do not claim broadly the provision of a fill llt,

yielding gripping device, but so far as we are aware nothing of this kind has ever-been located at the rentrant angle of the tab, and we have found that by providing this device a at this particular 1point the shifting of the cloth not only at t at point but at the adjacent partsof the-eiid of thecollar is prevented, and' to this end also we provide a lump or raised ortion h, i on the adjacent end blades I, 'i, which partlystretches and lifts up the cloth at that point-as the die descends you the blank, and cooperates with the gripping blocks e to prevent the cloth tearing and shifting at this point.

We have already alluded to the provision of turn buckles, and in addition to those mentioned it will be observed that we provi-d e turn buckles It in the rods Jr and 12 in the rods n", the former of these serving to 201 regulate the creasing pressure on the end blades and the latter the pressure of the hold ing-die or 'formerupon the blanks, =it being understood that the extent of movcment for bringing-these pressures must be varied with extreme nicety to-correspond to the requirements of different fabric and differentthicknesses or numbers of plies of the blanks.

We have omitted herein to describe various details not forming part of our invention, as for instance the shifting mechanism at r, 1", *Fig. 1, and the heating chamber s and steam pi )e s, Fig. 13.

We 'have already described many of the *movcnients of our machine, and therefore deem it necessary at this point to describe only the folding movements as they take place in folding a blank.

It being supposed that the operator has 'placed a blank in proper position on the feeding plate p and has placed the pointed guide lugs p inthe guides p of the machine, and raised thcblades so as to-leave the blank 'suspended from the pins p, the parts of the machine beingin the position shown in Fig. 'lfthe cam n-then continues to rotate in the direction'of the arrow, until the roll a is permitted to descend alongthe incline of the cam, thereby lowering the cross head n so as to bring the die into pressing engagement on tl'ie-blankwhich is then between the die and the receiving pad of thc bed of the machine. The blank rests flat out on-the top of the receiving pad e, and on top of the edges of the blades f g, h, 'i, excepting for the little portions of the blank which are slightly raised by the projecting corners h, i.

Whcnthe die 'fiomes down'the scored surface of the/receiving pad and theyiclding blocks 0 grip the blank tenaciously at the edges and those points where there/is thegrcatest tendency to shift. The first folding movement according to the present arrangement is aecomplished by "the end blades which are a simultaneously lifted by'the lever h actu- 'atcd by a cam pro ection h", and swung inwardly by the deflection 40 of the cams h, i", but other orders of folding or sequence of moving the blades may be employed. Thereupon the-cams a, n, in the cross head move toward the center the end parts of the die or former sufficiently to get them out from under the end blades and straight end folds, the die being first slightly raised by the depression 31 of thecam n then also the cam m through the arm m moves the die forward sufficiently to get it from under the curved tab end folds and that portion of the end blades. Then pressure is brought to bear upon the end blades by means of the lever k actuated by the projectionof the cam 7c, Figs. 12 and 14-. During this end pressing .the die is moved bodily upward by its springs, or and the depression 32 of .the cam a and having been lifted sufficiently to clear-the end folding blades, it is brought back into position directly over the collar blank on the receiving pad by the combined action of the cam m and the cams n", a. 'llhe pressureon the end blades is then relieved and the end blades are swung backiby their cams h", 71 free .of the folded blank and of the receiving pad, and the die ,descends and the projections 33 of the cams n depress vthe die or former again tightly As the die gets in place the front folding blade begins to rise from its recess below the receiving pad, and lies over the projecting edge of the blank to form the front fold, being actuated by the rod f and lever f operated upon by the deflection 41 in the face cam f for the lifting part of the movement of the folding blade and by the lever f -f actuated by the rise 42 in the camf for the inward movement of the blade. Next the die is permitted to rise slightly by the recess 34 of the cams a and is retracted from beneath the front fold and blade by.the arm m and the deflection 43 of the cam m, Fig. 13. As soon as the fronthalf of the die has escaped from beneath the front folding blade the depression 35 of thecam n (Fig. 9) permits the front half of the die to rise, and thereupon the front creasing pressure mechanism is-broughtto bear upon the front folding blade by the further rotation-of the cam f In thisposition the whole dieris. at once brought forward by the latter part of the deflection 43 of thecam m, so as to bring the back part of the die or former imposition on the blank for making thcback fold,:the

projections 36 of the cams 71 The .back blade is then raised by: the rod 9 .acted upon simultaneously moved forward by the lever g engaging-the projection 45 of the cam 9 so as to lift up theprojecting edge of the blank and lay it over on the rear edge ofthe upon the blank, at the same time further creasing and holding the end folds just made.

die being tightly pressed on the blank by the by the deflection 44 0f the cam g, and is former or die and make the back fold. The whole diethen moves forward, the back part thereof first having raised slightly (by the recesses 37 of the cams 11 this movement being accomplished by the arm in and the deflection 46 of the cam m, and then. the cross head rises slightly (by the projection 47 of cam a, Fig. 15), and next the back part of the die is raised even with the front part by the engagement of the sector I) of the gear 5'' with the sector a of the gear a" (Fig. 2), which rotates the shaft a and brings into operation the deflections 38 of folding blades from the blank each t the cams n While the last mentioned movement is taking place pressureis being brought upon the back folding blade by means of the eccentric path 48 in the cam g", and then the further rotation of the shaft it by the sec tors b, n, causes the parts to be brought again into the position shown in rig. 9, the cross head meanwhile rising and continuing to rise until the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 15. The front and heel; folding blades continue pressing the blank until the operator has placed another blank in position on the pins p" as the cro head was rising and the latter has got re to descend, whereupon the blades quiet y rise sli htly and move back from the folds of the folded blank then down and inwardly into position with their top surfaces flush with the top of the receiving pad, and then the operator picks oil' the folded blank, and the operations already described are repeats d. We make provision for slightly raisii r the o0- fore they are to be drawn away. fromv the same, in order that there may be no tendency to move back or disturb the creased folds just made.

One primary object of our invention has been to provide mechanism whereby each fold could be creased with heavy pressure and for a relatively long time in the process of folding, and this is particularly true of the top folds, these folds being the front and back folds in the order of folding as herein shown and preferably employed, for it will be understood that having thus pressed and ironed with the long creasing pressure the top or overlapping folds of the folded blank, there is little possibility that the end folds can become unfolded.

Usually collars and the like are made of three or more plies (the face, one or more interlinings, and the back), the blanks being dampened before going into the machine, and

our machine renders it perfectly feasible to fold a whole collar, irrespective of the number of plies which it may contain, at one operation, inasmuch as the quick and enormous pressure that is brought to bear upon the blades permanently creases the folds into their desired ultimate shape before the plies have had a chance to dry out, and therefore, the creases being thus made under this enormous and quick pressure, are rendered permanent.

For the purpose of some of the claims hereof, the following explanations may be made. The pad which supports the blanks to befoldcd, will be seen to be of such size and shape that the unfolded blanks project beyond the pad at all edges. Owing to this, none of the folders are required to bemaintaincd in a plane above the top of the pad but all of them may be drop ed. This permits the free, in fact universal horizontal movcmerit of the die or templet. The die being constructed to be when expanded of the full size and shape of the folded blank, this feature is obviously important. When the folders drop, their upper sides are at least as low as the upper side of the pad. This is the condition which exists while the pad is supporting a blank that is unfolded but is in proper position to be folded. The die constitutcs a means for holding the blanks on the pad during the infolding operation. Its lateral shifting movements are in a plane substanti ally parallel with the surface of the supporting pad. The movable bottom plates of the die or templet may be designated as defining plates, and manifestly at least one of :li in must be movable to give the die capaof coi'n'mcting or expanding. The vertical guide rods 12, and connected parts may be designated as mechanical fittings which permit the movement of the templet from its blank defining position to its clevatr-rl positioi nd back again. The cafi'ns, slidcs, etc, 2 are carried upwardly and downwardly and move with the templet for actuating the templet plate, are connected for example by means of the bar in, well shown in Fig. 8, to an external device, which. acting through said bar, controls the templet plate movements. The external device to which bar m extends, connects therewith in all positions of the templet, whether raised or lowered this bein accomplished by constituting the external device of the form of the vertical lever m in engagement with which the outward end of bar m slides. The oscillation of the lever causes the bar to reciprocate inwardly and outwardly lengthwise of its own direction, and the bar being suitably connected to the mechanism of the templet, this results in the desired movements of the templet plates. As shown the .upward and downward templet movements are along a right line.

Having described our invention, what we .claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat- .cnt is 1. in a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive the blanks to be folded, means to hold the blanks in position, a folding blade for folding an edge of the blank,

seems and mechanism for moving said folding blade, said mechanism including a rod for raising and lowering the folding edge of the blade, an arm for moving said rod, and a lever for actuating said arm, said lever having two adjustable stops and said arm projecting at its free end between said stops, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive the blanks to be folded, means to hold the blanks in position, a folding blade for folding an edge of the blank, and mechanism for moving said "folding blade, said mechanism including means for moving the blade up and downand for givin positive creasing pressure to the blade, an means for varying the extent of vertical movement of the blade, substantially as described.

, 3. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive theublanks to be folded, means for folding the blanks, a die for resting u on the blanks, and means for shifting said (he over said bed, said means including a bar, a lever for moving said bar, a wedge device adjustable on said bar, and stops carried by said lever for engaging said wedge device, substantially as described.

4. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed rovidcd with a raised receiving pad on whlch the blanks to be folded are placed, said ad conforming in sh ape and size to the foldc article, folding blades for folding a blank at all its edges, said bed being depressed or lower than said pad at all the edges thereof, and said folding blades normally occupying a position lower than and next to the receiving surface of said ad in position for the projecting edges of the lanks to rest over and on top of the folding edges of said blades, means for holding the blank on said pad, and means for moving said blades upwardly to turn up the edges of the blanks and inwardl to lay said upturned edges over on the blan s and down onto the laid over ed es of the blank to fold the'same,'substan tia lly as described.

5'. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive blanksto be folde.d,'a collapsible die for holdin a blank in )osition to be folded, means for lbwering'and raising said die, folding blades for folding the edges .offthe blank, certain of said blades making folds before other blades make folds, means for positively moving the blades up and down for pressing purposes and means for maintaining creasing )ressure on said first mentioned blades until after the die has been collapsed, withdrawn and finally raised from' the blanks, substantially as described,

6. Ina machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive blanksto be folded,

means to hold the blank on said bed, and a folding blade to fold an edge of said blank,.

said b de having means for moving the same iniand out, and means secured to the blade adJac'ent the front edge thereof for'moving the blade u and down and bringing an even and power 'ul creasing pressure directly at the front edge of the blade, substantially as described. v

7. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive a blank to be folded, a die to rest on the blank, means to move said die nand down, a blade for folding an edge of said blank, said blade being carried byan arm pivoted in the machine to swing said blade horizontally toward and from the blank, means to lift said blade, and means to swing said blade on its pivot, substantially as described.

8. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive a blank to be folded, a die to rest on the blank, means to move said die u and down, a blade for folding an edge of said blank, said blade being carried by an arm pivoted in the machine to swing said blade horizontally toward and. from the blank, the pivot of said blade being slidingly journaled in the frame of the machine, means to lift said blade and its pivot, and means to swing said blade toward and from the blank substantially as described.

9. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive a blank to be folded,

said blank requiring a fold to be made about a reentrant angle thereof, a blade for making said fold, said blade resting normally below the receiving surface of the bed with its up 1 per surfacesubstantially flush therewith, and said blade being provided at the corner thereof adjacent said reentrant angle with a lump or raised portion, substantially as described.

10. In a machine for folding collars and the like, abed to receive a blank to be folded, a folding blade to make a fold, a pressing lever. pivoted at one end tobring creasing pressure at its other end upon said blade, a rod secured to said lever between said ends, and means to depress said rod, substantially as described.

11. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive a blank to be folded,

a folding blade to make a fold, a pressing Elie comprising a front part and a separate .i-ear' part, and means for raising said two parts dlssnnultanoously, substantially as de-- scribed.

v 13. In a machine for folding collals and the like, a bed to receive a blank to be folded,

folding mechanism, a multi-part die to rest on the blank \vbenllhe folds are made, said die ('onn'n'ising a front; part and a separate rear part each composed of a plurality of pieces, means fora-ollapsing and exnznnling said two parts, and means for raising said. two parts dissimult ant-ouslv, snbstant iall v as described.

, 14. in a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed i tree-hie a blank to be folded,

folding llltftlhllilfiill, a 1nnlti-part die to rest on the blank when the folds are made, said die comprising a front part and a separate rear part,- means for raising said two parts dissimultaneously, and means for shifting the entire die transversely of said bed, substantiall as described.

15. In a foldingmarhine for foldingblanks for collars and the like, a bed adapted to receivc the blanksto be. folded, folding mechanism, a. multi-part dic titted to rest on the blanks when the folds are being made, said (lie comprising a front part and a separate reifr part, the die having a fixed width by reason of its non-collapsibility in the direc tion of its width, and me for moving one of said parts vertically in advance of the other part, substantially as and for the purpose described.

16. in a folding machine for foldin blanks for collars and the like, a bed adapted to receive the blanks to be folded, folding mechanism, a n'tulti-part die titted to rest on the blanks when the folds are being made, said 'die comprising a front part and a separate.

'rea part, the die being eoll.-tpsible lengtlmise buthaving a fixed width by reason of its noncollapsibility in the direction of its width, and means for moving one of said parts ver- 40 tically in advance of the other part, substantially as and for the purpose described.

1?. ln a machine for folding collars and the like, a die or former com n-ising front and rear parts having separate end pieres, sepa- 45. ratehangers for said end pieces, bridge pieces having ways in which said hangers are.

mounted to slide longitudina lljv ofsaid die, a

fran'ie carrying said bridge pieces, means for moving said hangers longitudinally of said bridge pieces, means for moving said bridge pieces vtn-ticallv independently of each other, and means for moving said bridge pieces transversel of said frame, substantially as described 18. A machine for folding collars and the like having a die or former comprising front. 5

and rear parts having separate end 'pieccs, separate hangers for said end )ieces,l. ridge pieces having ways in which said hangers are indunted toslide longitudinally of said die, a frame carrying said bridge pieces, a cross head carrying said frame, means for moving said hangers longitudinally of said bridge .p ieoes, means for moving said bridge pieces,

vertically itnlepemlentlv of each other, means for moving said bridge pieces trans verst'lv of said frame, and means for moving said frame up and donn in said cross head, substantia ly as d scribed.

it). in a machine. for folding collars and the like, a die or former comprising front and rear parts having separate end pieces, sepa-- rate hangers for said end pieces, said end pieces being carried by supports adjustablv mounted in said hangers, bridge pieces havi g avs in which said hangers are mounted to slide longitudimtll of said die, a frame arrving said bridge pieces, intatns for moving said hangers'longitudimtlly of said bridge pieces, means for moving said bridge pieces v rtically imlependcntly of each other, and means for moving said bridge pieces transverselv of said frame, substantiall as described.

20. A machine for folding collar. and the like having a die or former comprising separate front and rear parts, a cross head carr v ing the same, levers pivoted at opposite sides of said cross'head. and resting at their free ends upon said front and rear parts respectivelv, and cams journaled in said cross head and operating said levers, substantially as described.

21. ln a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive the blanks to be folded, folding blades for folding the several edges of the blank, a die for holding the blank, said die co'niprising independently vertically movable front and rear parts, a cross head carrying said die, means for moving the end folding blades to make the end folds of the blank, mechanism for moving the end portions of said die out from under the end folds and for ard, means for restoring the parts of the die to their original rela- 'tion and en avin 'them a ain with the J t b t. is

blank, means for operating a folding blade to make a longitudinal fold, means for moving the die from ben ath said fold and raising the adjacent part of the die, substantially as described.

22. in a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive the blanks to be folded, folding blades for folding the several. edges of the blank, a die for holding the blank, said die comprising independently vertically movable front and rear parts, a cross head carrying said die, means for moving the end folding blades to make the end folds of the blank, meclntnism for moving the end portions of said. die out from under the end folds and forward, means for restoring the parts of the die to their original relation and. engaging them again with the blank,

means for operating a folding blade to make a longitudinal fold, means for moving the die from beneath said fold and raising the adja cent part of the die, and means for positioning the remaining depressed part of the die for the opposite longitudinal fold, substantially as described.

23. In a machine for folding collars and the like, raised to receive the blanks to be the end portions ofsaid die out from under the end folds and forward, means for restoring the parts of the die to their original relation, and engaging them again with the blank, means for operating a folding blade to make a longitudinalfold, means for moving the die from beneath said fold and raising theadj aoent part of theldie,means for positioning the remaining depressed vart of the die for the opposite longitudinai fold, and means for moving said de ressed part of the die from beneath the to (1 last made, and raising the same adjacent the previously raised part of the die, substantially as described.

24. In a machine for-folding collars and v the like, a bed to receive a blank to be folded,

. folding mechanism for folding opposite edges thereof, a die or former to rest upon the blank, said die comprising independently movable parts adjacent said two opposite edges, means for moving said folding mechanism to make said two folds dissimultaneously, means for moving the part of the die adjacent the first fold 'made from beneath said fold when made, and raising the same, and means for then moving the opposite part of the die from beneath the second fold made and raising said part of the, die, substantially as described.

25. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive a blank to be folded, folding mechanism for folding opposite edges thereof, a die or former to rest upon the blank, said die comprising independently vertically movable parts adjacent said two opposite edges, means for moving said folding mechanism to make said two folds dissimultaneously, means for moving the part of the die adjacent the first fold made from beneath said fold when made, and raising the same, means for bringing creasing pressure upon the said first fold made, and-means for then moving the opposite part Of the die from beneath the second fold made andraising said part of the die, substantially as descrihcrl.

26. In a machinefor folding collars and the like, a bed to receive a blank to 'be folded, folding mechanism for folding opposite edges thereof, a die or former to-rest upon the blank, said die comprising -1ndependently vertically movable parts adjacent said two opposite edges, means for moving said folding mechanism to make said two folds dissimultaneously, means for moving the part of the die adjacent the first fold made from beneath said fold when made, and raising the same, means for bringing creasing pressure upon the said first fold made means for then moving the opposite part of the die from beneath the second fold made and raising said part of the die, and means for bringing creasing pressure upon the said second fold and maintaining said pressure until the die is raised, substantially as described.

27. In a machine for the like, a multipart die comprising independent front and rear parts each including separate end pieces, and an intermediate part alining with said end pieces, said front and rear parts being independently movable in a vertical direction, substantially as described.

28. In a machine for folding collars "and the like, a main frame, a cross head movable up and down in said frame, a die carried by said cross head and movable relatively there-1 to, a shaft journaled in said cross head for operating said die, gearing journaledin said frame, apinion fasten sald shaft and arfolding collars and Y ranged to mesh at times with a gear Wheel of said gearing, said gear wheel having a raised toothed sector, and said pinion having an ece centric toothed sector for meshing with said gear wheel sector, whereby the latter continues to rotate after said cross head has begun to rise, substantially as described.

29. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a main frame, a cross head movable up and down in said frame, a'die carried by said cross head and movable relatively thereto, a shaft journaled in said cross headforope erating said die, gearing journaled in said frame, a pinion fast on said shaft and arranged to mesh at times with a gear wheel of said gearing, said gear wheel having a raised toothed sector, and said pinion ha'vlng an eccentric toothed sector for meshing with said gear wheel sector, whereby the latter continues to rotate said shaft after said cross head has begun to rise, said gear wheel also having a block and said pinion a projection to engage said block for starting the rotation of the latter on the downward movement of the cross head, substantially as described.

30. In a machine for folding collars and givin an easy downward movement to said cross ead, substantially as described.

31. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a main frame, a cross head movable up and down in said frame, mechanism for moving said cross head'including a cam, and

a compound lever operated by said cam, said lever' consisting of a main short lever engagmg the cam at its free end, and an auxiliar lever carried by said mam lever and exten ing beyond the same, the free extended end of said auxiliary lever also engaging said cam, the short lever serving to 11ft the cross head while the auxiliary lever serves to lower the cross head, substantially as described.

32. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a main frame, a cross head movable lever consisting-of a main short lever engage up and down in said frame, mechanism for.

moving said cross head including a cam, and a compound lever operated by said cam, said ing the cam at its free end, and an auxiliary lever pivoted intermediate its length on said tively to the main lev'er, the short lever serving to lift the cross head, while the auxiliary lever serves to lower the cross head, substantially'asdescrlbed. y

33. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a main frame, a bed on said frame for receivin blanks to be, folded, a cross head mo'vab e up and downin said frame, a die carried by said cross head mechanism for moving said cross head including a lifting rod, and a turn buckle in said lifting rod for varying the ap roach of said die to said bed according to ifferent thickness of blanks, and for varying the ressure of said die 0 the blank, substantia y as described.

34. A die having a air of front arts and a pair of rear parts, 0th the sai pairs of parts being contractible simultaneously in a engthwise direction and one air of parts being together movable vertica flyindep endently of the other pair 35. A die having a pair of front arts and a pair of rear parts, the front parts eing vertically movable relatively to the rear parts, the front and rear arts at the left being longitudinally movab e in unison, and the front and rear parts at the right being longitudinally movable in unison, but in opposite dii'etction to the movements of the parts at the 36. A die having a pair of front arts and a pair of rearparts, the front parts eing vertically movable relatively to the rear parts, the front and rear )arts at the left being longitudinally movabfe in unison, and the front and rear parts at the right being longitudinally movable in unison, but in opposite direction to the movements of the parts at the left, the front parts being relatively immovable laterally, relatively to the rear parts, rendering the die of fixed width.

37. A die having a pair of front parts and a pair of rear parts, the front parts being vertically movable relatively to the rear parts, the front and rear arts at the left being longitudinally movab e in unison, and the front and rear parts at the right being longitudinally movable in unison, but in opposite directlon to the movements of the parts at the left, the front parts being relatively immovable laterally, relatively tothe rear )ftItS, rendering the die of fixed Width, but a l the parts being laterally movable together for shifting the die bodily.

-38. A die having a pair of front parts and a pair of rear arts, the front and rear arts at the left being longitudinally movab e in unison, and the front and rear arts at the right being longitudinally movab e in unison, but in opposite direction to the movements of the parts at the left, and'the parts being so constructed and fitted that a vertical movement may be effected as between the front relatively to the rear parts, and means for effecting said movements.

39. A die having a pair of front parts and a pair of rear arts, the front and rear arts at the left being longitudinally movab e in unison, and the front and rear arts at the right being longitudinally movab ein unison, but in opposite direction to the movements of the parts at the left, the front parts being relatively immovable laterally, relatively to the rear parts, renderin the die of fixed width, and the parts being so constructed and fitted that a vertical movement may be effected as between the front relatively to the rear parts, and means for effecting said movements.

40. A die having a pair of front parts and a pair of rear parts, the front and rear parts at the left being'longitmlinnlly movable in unison, and the front and rear parts at the right being longitudinally movable in nnison, but in opposite direction to the move- {nents of the parts at the left, the front parts being relatively immovable laterally, relatively to the rear parts, rendering the die of fixed width, but all the parts being laterally movable together for shifting the die bodily, and the parts being so coin structed and fitted that a vertical movement may be effected as between the front relatively to the roar parts, and means for effecting said movements.

4],. A die having a pair of front parts and a pair of rear arts, the front and rear arts at the left being longitmlinally nlovnb e in unison, and the front and rum parts at the right being longitlulimrlly movable in unison, but in opposite direction to the nn'nonnnts of the parts at the left, the front parts llllllg llll relatively immovable laterally, relatively to wardly and inwardly for folding the blank the rear parts, rendering the die of fixed width, but all the parts being laterall movable together for shifting the die bodi y, and

the parts being so constructed and fitted that 1 a vcrticalqnovement may be effected as between. the front relatively to the rear parts, and means foreffecting said moveme ts; all combined with a bed, folding mechanism, an operating shaft, and mechanical connections intermediate the shaft and the die and folding mechanisms, whereby the die may .be lowered upon the bed, with the blanks between the two, the ends of the blanks then infolded, the die then contracted endwise out of the folds, and then raised above the blanks and expanded to normal position above the blanks, then the folding mechanism retracted,- then the die again lowered upon the blanks, then the rear blank edges infolded over, the die, the die moved bodily out of the 1 fold-with sufficient endwise contraction, and

raised at its rear and again restored to normal position while the infolding mechanism is again contracted, the die finally again lowcred upon the blanks, the front'edges infolded, the die moved bodily rearward and raised at its front, after which the parts return to original position that the folded blanks may be removed. I

42. In a machine for folding the edges of blanks, the combination of a blank supporting pad of such size and shape that the unfolded blanks project beyond said pad at all edges, infolders adapted to occupy positionsadjacent to said pad with their u per sides at least as low as the upper side of the pad while the pad supports-a biank in position to be folded, a means for holding the blanks on said pad, and means for actuating said infolders to move upwardly and inwardly for I folding the blank edges.

43. In a machine for folding the edges of blanks, the combination of a blank su porting pad of such size and shape that '0 1e unfolded blanks project beyond said pad at all edges, infolders adapted to occupy positions adjacent to said pad with their u per sides at least as low as the upper side of the padwhile the pad supports a blank in position to be folded, a means for defining the edges of the blanks on said pad, and means for actuating said iiifolders to move upwardly and inwardly for folding the blank edges.

44. In a machine for folding the edges of blanks,*the combination of a blank supporting pad of such size and sh e that t e un- ,folded blanks project beyom said pad at all edges, infolders adapted to occupy positions adjacent to said pad with their u per sides at least as low as the upper side of t e pad while the pad supports a blank in position to be folded, a bodily shifting die for defining the edges of the blanks .on said pad, and means {or actuating said infolders to move up ing pad of such size and shape that t e un- I folded blanks project beyond. said pad at all edges, infolders adapted to occupy positions adjacent to. said pad with their u )pcr sides at least as low as the upper side of the pad while the pad sup )orts a blank in position to be folded, a bodily shifting die for defining the edges of the blanks on said pad, and means for actuating said infolders in so uence to move upwardly and. inwardly for fo ding the blank edges.

46. In a machine for folding the edges of blanks, the combination of a blank supporting pad of such size and shape that the unfolded blanks project beyond said pad at'all edges, infolders adapted to occupy positions adjacent to said pad with their 11 per sides at least as low as the upper side of the pad while the pad supports a blank in position to be folded, a bodily shifting die for defining the edges of the blanks on said pad, and means for actuating said infolders to move upwardly and inwardly for folding the blank edges, and means'for pressing folds between said infolders and pad.

47. In a machine for folding the edges of blanks, the combination of a bed, and pro-.

least as low as the upper side of t e pad while i the pad supports a blank in'position to be folded, a bodily shifting die for'defining the edges of the blanks on said pad, and means for actuating said infolders to move up wiardly and inwardly for folding the blank er ges.

48. In a machine for folding the edges of blanks the combination of a blank supporting pad of such size and shape that the unfolded blanks project beyond said pad at all edges, infolders adapted to occupy positions adjacent to said pad with their upper sides at least as low as the upper side of the pad while the pad supports a blank in position to be folded, a die constructed to be when expanded of the full size and shape of the folded blank, means for bodily shiftin said die, and means for actuating said infolilers to move upwardly and inwardly for folding the blank or ges.

49. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a support adapted to receive the- 

